The Secret Garden1949The Secret Garden
1949
Orphaned and spoiled, Mary Lennox is sent from India to her uncle's gloomy Yorkshire manor. She discovers a locked, neglected garden and a sickly cousin hidden away in the house.
The default: films the whole family can watch together; any scary or intense moments for the littlest viewers are flagged in the Context Notes.
Why it’s here
Lonely children bring a neglected garden, and a grieving household, back to life. Frances Hodgson Burnett's classic, with the garden scenes in color.
Context notes
For parents, before you press play.
Mary is spoiled and rude at first, and the children keep the garden secret from the adults; Mary softens and the secret leads to healing. The gloomy manor, crying in the night, and a bedridden boy may feel eerie to little ones.
The Secret Garden (1949)
Discussion questions
When the credits end, go around the room. Each person gives the film a score out of ten and says why.
- What changed Mary?
- Why did Colin think he couldn't walk?
- What did the garden do for each of them?
- Why did they keep it a secret?
Content advisory
IMDb parents guide (via WebSearch): no violence or profanity; mild smoking and drinking; mildly eerie scenes.
Trailer
Best edition
The disc comes first.
The Secret Garden DVD (Warner Archive Collection)
DVD · May 7, 2013
Edition link coming soon.
Listing on Blu-ray.com (opens in a new tab)Coming later
Where to stream
Streaming services are not listed yet. When they are, this note stays secondary to the disc.